A brief nap during an acute stressor improves negative affect.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Sleep Science

Background:

• Overnight sleep is known to reduce stress and improve mood.
• The impact of brief naps on stress responses in non-sleep-restricted individuals remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether a brief nap can reduce perceived stress, negative affect, and cognitive disruptions after an acute stressor.
• To compare the effects of a nap versus a quiet break on psychological and cognitive outcomes following stress.

Main Methods:

• A between-subjects design was used with two groups: nap (n=29) and wake (n=41).
• Participants underwent a modified Trier Social Stress Test, including a speech anticipation task and a math task.
• A 40-minute break allowed for either a nap (monitored with electroencephalography) or watching a neutral video.

Main Results:

• Both groups experienced reduced perceived stress and improved working memory after the break.
• Napping did not provide additional benefits for perceived stress or working memory compared to the wake group.
• The nap group showed significantly lower negative affect post-break than the wake group, with only the nap group exhibiting reduced negative affect from baseline.

Conclusions:

• A brief nap can enhance mood regulation more effectively than a quiet break following an acute stressor.
• Napping may be a beneficial strategy for managing negative emotions during stressful experiences.
• Further research could explore the neural mechanisms underlying nap-induced mood improvements in stress contexts.